Rescuers caring for poisoned eagle

Wildlife rescuers say a young male eagle that was apparently poisoned is being treated at the Wild Bird Sanctuary.

Joyce L. Miller

Wildlife rescuers say a young male eagle that was apparently poisoned is being treated at the Wild Bird Sanctuary.

The injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, according to the wildlife rescuers. The eagle spent Sunday night with Jan and Pat Kirschke -- who are permitted to kept wild animals in captivity for rehabilitation -- until the eagle could be moved to the sanctuary near St. Louis.

The eagle was able to move around but could not take flight.

The eagle was turned over to the Missouri Department of Conservation on Sunday after being found by a resident in the Macks Creek area.

The bird weighed at least 30 pounds and had a wing span of more than 5 feet.

Conservation Agent Sean Ernst said there were no shell casings or other evidence found near where the bid was located. The owner of the property where the eagle was found called MDC after hearing shots.

Protecting and securing the future of eagles is a priority for WBS. The sanctuary has a multitude of programs that teach and promote conservation efforts to protect eagles and other species of birds.

According to the MDC, killing an eagle is a violation of state and federal law. The Eagle Protection Act, a federally enacted law, protects eagles from import, export, sale, purchase, poisoning, shooting, pursuing, wounding, killing, capturing, trapping, collecting, molesting or disturbing.

It is illegal to possess an eagle, whether dead or alive, or even an eagle feather, without a federal permit. If you find a dead eagle, contact your local conservation agent as soon as possible or contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The public can help by reporting any information about killing or shooting at bald eagles to the Department of Conservation or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.